Strong Quake Hits Southwestern Japan

Tokyo, Sept. 17 (Jiji Press)–A strong earthquake struck southwestern Japan on Wednesday night, measuring lower 5, the fifth-highest level on the nation’s seismic intensity scale, in the island village of Toshima in Kagoshima Prefecture. The temblor, with an estimated magnitude of 4.7, occurred in a shallow area off the Tokara Islands in the prefecture around 9:55 p.m., the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The village was jolted by another quake, which registered 4 on the seismic scale, around 10 p.m., according to the agency. Temblors measuring 3 were also felt in the village. No major damage from the quakes has been confirmed, according to the village office. A string of earthquakes began to hit Toshima June 21. On July 3, a quake measuring lower 6, the third-highest level on the scale, rocked Akusekijima, an island in the Tokara chain and part of the village. Following the series of earthquakes, a total of about 70 people from Akusekijima and Kodakarajima, another island in the chain belonging to the village, temporarily evacuated to locations including the city of Kagoshima, the capital of the prefecture. It was the first time since July 7 that a quake of lower 5 or higher has hit the village. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]